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A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S 
WAR  STORY 


BEING  A  NARRATIVE  OF  THE 

WAR  HISTORY  OF  THE 

MEMPHIS  APPEAL 


BY  R.  A.  HALLEY 


RKPBINTED  FROM  THE  AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  MAGAZINE 
FOR  APRIT,,  1903. 


54-0 


A    REBEL    NEWSPAPER'S    WAR    STORY:      BEING    A 

NARRATIVE  OF  THE  WAR  HISTORY  OF  THE 

MEMPHIS  APPEAL. 

BY  R.  A.  HALLEY. 


Journalism  in  Tennessee  has  presented  a  great  many  interest 
ing  phases,  but  without  question  the  most  strange  and  remark 
able  phase  of  all  is  that  to  be  gleaned  from  half  a  dozen  thin, 
travel-worn  volumes  that  hold  between  their  covers  the  war 
files  and  the  war  history  of  the  Memphis  Appeal.  They  tell  the 
story  of  the  days  when  it  still  kept  the  name  of  the  Memphis 
Appeal,  though  printed  in  Mississippi,  Alabama  or  Georgia,  while 
casting  its  lot  with  the  South  to  the  extent  of  dwelling  wherever 
the  chances  and  changes,  the  fortunes  or  misfortunes  of  war 
demanded,  in  order  to  remain  with  the  people  whose  cause  it 
had  warmly  espoused  from  long  before  the  inauguration  of 
active  hostilities.  These  files,  therefore,  contain  the  inner  his 
tory  of  the  war  to  an  extent  unreached  by  any  other  paper  pub 
lished  in  the  South.  The  history  of  the  Appeal  is  conspicuously 
unique.  It  was  the  soldier's  special  organ,  and  spoke  almost 
with  the  voice  of  authority  for  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  whose 
fortunes  it  followed  and  with  which  it  was  identified  from  its 
organization  to  its  collapse  in  December,  1864.  With  an  enter 
prise  and  pluck  that  met  obstacles  only  to  overcome  them,  its 
proprietors  moved  their  types,  presses,  engines  and  boilers  from 
place  to  place,  and  whether  staying  for  a  month  or  for  a  year 
were  prompt  in  issuing  a  daily  paper  that  was  edited  with  skill 
and  ability  and  was  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  useful  agencies 
in  the  life  of  the  Confederacy.  Its  correspondents  were  found 
with  every  army  in  every  State  and  its  proprietors  expended 
money  freely  to  obtain  the  news  from  beyond  the  Confederate 
lines.  It  was  a  tower  of  strength  to  the  Southern  people  and  was 
indissolubly  linked  with  their  long  struggle.  The  passing  events 
are  interwoven  with  the  story  of  exile — though  exile  among 


2  A  REBEI,  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

friends — and  altogether  it  makes  a  story  unsurpassed  if  not  un 
equalled,  in  the  annals  of  journalism. 

On  the  morning  of  Friday,  June  6,  1862,  while  the  gunboat 
fight  was  raging  hotly  in  front  of  the  city,  The  Memphis  Appeal, 
being  what  was  termed  a  "rebel  sheet,"  left  Memphis  and  went 
to  the  pleasant  little  town  of  Grenada,  Miss.  The  press  and 
other  machinery,  its  two  new  "dresses"  of  type  and  its  working 
force  accompanied  it,  and  on  the  following  Monday,  June  9,  1862, 
The  Memphis  Appeal  was  once  more  issued,  this  time  as  an 
afternoon  paper,  bearing  the  Grenada  date  line.  This  issue  con 
tains  a  full  account  of  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  some  ten  days 
previously,  and  also  of  the  fall  of  Memphis  and  the  destruction 
of  the  Confederate  fleet. 

Exchanges  are  requested  to  direct  their  papers  to  Grenada  for 
the  future,  and  in  an  address  "To  Our  Readers,"  the  editor  says : 
"The  occupation  of  Memphis  by  the  Federal  forces  has  con 
vinced  us  of  the  necessity  of  removing  our  office  of  publication 
to  Grenada,  Miss.  In  taking  this  step  our  principal  motive  has 
been  to  continue  in  a  position  wherein  we  may  be  able  to  render 
official  service  to  the  cause  we  advocate,  hereafter  as  heretofore, 
and  in  accomplishing  this,  should  we  succeed,  we  will  find  our 
greatest  reward.  Our  fate  is  indissolubly  connected  with  that 
of  the  Confederacy.  Our  political  action  in  the  past  is  well 
understood.  We  cannot  desert  the  one  nor  change  as  to  the 
other.  Our  political  ideas  were  not  formed  to  be  cast  aside  under 
any  exigency  that  can  possibly  happen ;  and  so  long  as  two  or 
three  states  are  gathered  together  in  the  name  of  the  Confederate 
States,  so  long  will  we  be  found  advocating,  as  zealously  as  ever, 
a  continued  resistance  to  the  tyranny  which  a  haughty  foe  are 
endeavoring  to  establish  over  us.  The  Appeal  will  not  swerve 
from  its  course,  come  what  will,  no  matter  how  great  the  sacri 
fices  we  may  find  it  necessary  to  make.  We  have  an  abiding 
faith  in  the  success  of  the  South." 

And  if  this  faith  ever  weakened,  or  doubt  ever  entered,  not 
a  line  was  there  ever  in  the  paper  to  show  it.  Through  all  the 
long  struggle,  with  its  hardships  and  frequent  flights,  with  all 
the  attendant  vicissitudes  and  calamities,  the  editorial  utterances 
breathed  a  hopeful  spirit  that  the  worst  disasters  of  the  war 
never  once  chilled. 


A  REBEI,  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  3 

It  so  happened  that  about  this  very  time  another  victory  of 
General  Stonewall  Jackson  illustrated  the  feeling  that  animated 
the  Appeal  all  through  the  war,  in  defeat  as  in  triumph.  "The 
star  of  the  victorious  Jackson,"  it  says,  "is  once  more  in  the 
ascendant,  and  he  is  once  more  pushing  forward  after  an  utterly 
defeated  and  flying  foe.  General  Jackson's  motto  is  the  correct 
one — fight  the  enemy  wherever  you  can  find  him,  and  if  he  will 
not  offer  you  battle,  go  after  him  and  compel  him  to  fight.  Give 
us  a  little  more  of  these  tactics  and  the  war  will  soon  assume  a 
much  more  favorable  aspect.  The  Federals  can  be  forced  to 
abandon  our  states  and  cities,  our  people  can  return  to  their 
homes  in  peace,  and  the  Confederacy  take  her  place  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth." 

In  speaking  of  the  Appeal  during  the  three  years  that  followed 
its  departure  from  Memphis,  it  is  not  intended  to  write  the 
history  of  the  war,  but  only  to  sketch  the  scenes  amid  which 
the  paper  lived,  by  which  it  was  necessarily  affected.  Its  pro 
prietors  foresaw  that  they  could  not  publish  their  paper  in  Mem 
phis,  and  how  truly  they  read  the  signs  of  the  times  was  shown 
early  after  the  surrender  of  the  city,  when  papers  much  more 
guarded  in  expressing  their  opinions  were  suspended,  censured 
and  forced  into  discontinuance.  Press  censors  were  appointed 
for  the  papers  that  remained,  and  even  then  articles  appeared  that 
caused  the  publishers  trouble.  A  bogus  report  brought  in  of  the 
capture  of  Cincinnati  by  the  Confederate  troops,  brought  down 
the  wrath  of  the  authorities  on  two  papers,  and  caused  their 
suspension  for  several  days. 

AFFAIRS  IN   MEMPHIS. 

Colonel  M.  C.  Gallaway,  postmaster  under  the  Confederacy, 
went  to  Grenada  with  many  Memphians  who  left  at  the  time  of 
the  capture,  and  acted  as  postmaster  for  the  Southern  people, 
handling  and  properly  looking  after  the  mail,  particularly  that 
directed  to  Memphis  people.  In  the  Appeal  of  the  early  days  in 
Grenada,  a  specialty  was  made  of  news  from  Memphis  for  the 
benefit  of  many  hundreds  of  exiled  citizens  of  the  Bluff  City. 
The  Appeal  of  June  13  chronicles  the  fact  that  stores  were  be 
ginning  to  open  again  and  business  was  being  gradually  resumed 


4  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

in  Memphis.  The  price  of  the  Appeal  was  reduced  one-half  for 
all  Confederate  soldiers. 

In  reference  to  the  approach  of  Federal  troops  to  Holly 
Springs,  the  Appeal  of  June  19  says,  that  "they  should  not  be 
permitted  to  make  any  further  approaches.  .  .  .  Let  them  at 
every  advance  they  make,  meet  with  a  deadly  volley  from  every 
thicket.  .  .  .  Every  rifle  and  shotgun  in  the  country  should  be 
brought  into  requisition,  and  the  Federal  soldiery  should  be  taught 
that  every  step  they  make  further  South  is  made  with  hazard 
to  themselves.  Even  in  the  absence  of  any  army,  it  is  within 
the  power  of  the  citizens  of  the  country,  by  a  judicious  and  well 
organized  system  of  ambuscades  and  guerrilla  warfare,  to  harass, 
terrify  and  hold  the  enemy  at  bay." 

This,  but  to  show  the  spirit  of  the  times.  Needless  to  recall 
how  the  advice  was  followed.  Such  was  the  devotion  of  the 
people  to  the  Southern  cause  that  planters  along  the  river  put 
the  torch  to  their  own  cotton,  sustaining  the  loss  rather  than 
sell  to  the  invader.  Apropos,  the  Appeal  remarks :  "A  people 
determined  to  be  free  will  submit  to  any  sacrifice  and  cannot  be 
conquered." 

A  SPECIMEN  YANKEE  CAPTURED. 

June  20  this  fact  is  chronicled:  "A  Yankee  soldier,  who  was 
captured  by  some  citizens  while  he  was  picketing  below  Memphis, 
reached  the  city  last  evening.  He  gives  his  name  as  George 
Smith,  of  Captain  Stuber's  company,  eleventh  Illinois,  and  says 
he  was  enlisted  at  Peoria.  If  he  is  a  fair  specimen  of  the  Federal 
army  at  Memphis,  none  of  them  can  be  said  to  occupy  a  very 
high  position  in  the  scale  of  animal  creation."  George  Smith's 
subsequent  history  does  not  appear.  Doubtless  he  or  his  widow 
draws  a  pension  now. 

The  fight  had  begun  at  Vicksburg,  the  enemy's  vessels  opening 
fire  "at  a  safe  distance"  on  the  2Oth  of  June.  McClellan  had  been 
brought  to  a  stand  before  Richmond,  and  the  Appeal  believes 
that  "the  fortunes  of  war  have  turned  in  our  favor,  and  we  will 
finally  achieve  our  independence." 

The  mention  of  Richmond  recalls  the  fact  that  the  special  cor 
respondent  of  the  Appeal  at  Richmond  during  the  war  was  per 
haps  the  brightest  of  the  war  correspondents.  His  letters  con- 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  5 

tinue  all  through  the  fateful  period  of  the  war;  being  even  yet 
interesting  pictures  of  war  days  in  Virginia,  they  must  have 
been  read  when  fresh  from  the  press  with  the  keenest  interest. 
He  wrote  under  the  name  of  "Dixie,"  and  thousands  of  old 
Confederates  remember  his  brilliant  letters. 

The  battle  around  Vicksburg  was  recognized  as  the  determined 
beginning  of  the  contest  for  the  undisturbed  possession  of  the 
Mississippi ;  across  the  river  the  people  of  Arkansas  were  pur 
suing  the  guerrilla  warfare  above  advocated.  Stonewall  Jackson 
defeated  McClellan  before  Richmond ;  the  outlook  when  June 
closes  is  bright. 

July  opens  with  McClellan  in  full  retreat,  and  the  shells  still 
flying  over  Vicksburg.  "The  Success  of  Our  Arms"  is  the  title 
of  a  most  hopeful  editorial. 

TROUBLOUS  TIMES   IN   THE   BLUFF   CITY. 

The  Memphis  Avalanche  having  published  an  editorial  entitled 
"Mischief  Makers"  in  its  issue  of  July  i,  General  Grant  notified 
them  that  the  paper  was  being  conducted  "in  an  incendiary  and 
treasonable  spirit"  and  must  suspend  publication  unless  the  author 
of  the  editorial  withdrew  from  the  paper.  Mr.  Jeptha  Folkes 
thereupon  withdrew  and  the  paper  continued,  but  only  for  a 
brief  period ;  it  was  a  mere  question  of  time  and  soon  it  suspended 
until  the  war  was  over,  as  did  the  Argus,  and  the  latter  was  never 
revived. 

Times  in  Memphis  grew  more  troublous.  Ministers  who 
prayed  for  the  Southern  Confederacy  were  suspended  and  other 
wise  "effectually  admonished."  The  constant  communication  be 
tween  people  in  Memphis  and  their  friends  to  the  South  of  them 
so  annoyed  the  Federal  authorities  that  an  order  was  issued, 
banishing  from  the  city  within  five  days  the  families  of  all  per 
sons  holding  communications  with  any  who  had  voluntarily  en 
listed  in  the  Confederate  army;  the  families  of  all  holding  office 
or  employment  under  the  Confederate  government ;  of  all  holding 
state,  county  or  municipal  offices,  who  claimed  allegiance  to  the 
Confederacy  and  who  had  gone  South.  The  order  was  enforced, 
and  brought  no  little  hardship  on  the  women  and  children  of 
hundreds  of  Memphis  families.  All  who  were  driven  out  were 


6  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

invited  to  call  at  the  office  of  the  Appeal,  where  there  were  many 
letters  addressed  by  friends  to  the  exiles. 

Despite  hard  times  there  was  still  a  generous  spirit,  and  on 
the  night  of  July  25,  a  concert  given  by  Mrs.  Richardson's  music 
class  realized  $258  for  the  sufferers  at  Vicksburg. 

NORTHERN    PAPERS   IN   DEMAND. 

It  was  hard  to  get  news  in  those  days,  with  the  enemy  beyond 
and  interrupted  communication  in  nearly  every  direction,  and  a 
request  is  published  "that  gentlemen  who  arrive  from  the  United 
States  with  late  papers,  leave  them  at  the  editor's  room,  over 
George  Lake's  store,  next  door  north  of  the  Collins  House.  In 
these  days  of  uncertain  mail  from  the  South  and  a  blockade  on 
the  North,  our  facilities  for  furnishing  the  latest  news  from  all 
quarters  can  be  greatly  increased  by  a  little  attention  on  the  part 
of  our  friends." 

Sickness  thinned  the  Federal  ranks  at  Vicksburg,  and  August 
I,  the  Appeal  chronicles  the  fact  that  "the  infernal  yankees  have 
left  for  parts  unknown."  But  it  did  not  last  long. 

An  instance  of  Federal  tyranny  in  Memphis  is  noted  in  the 
shooting  of  three  white  men  and  three  negroes  who  refused  to 
work  on  the  fortifications. 

About  this  time,  in  response  to  the  query,  "Why  is  it  that  the 
South  stands  up  sturdily  against  the  superior  resources  and  num 
bers  of  the  loyal  section  of  the  Union"  the  Cincinnati  Commercial 
answered  that  the  South  had  made  the  war  a  business.  "The 
rebellious  people  have  lost  sight  of  everything  but  war,  and,  bend 
ing  all  their  energies  to  it,  have  accomplished  wonders."  The 
Commercial  urges  the  people  of  the  North  to  do  the  same,  but  the 
Appeal  in  copying  the  article,  with  evident  enjoyment  says  that 
these  appeals  will  have  no  effect ;  "that  the  people  of  the  North 
will  not  make  war  their  business  until  they  can  see  more  dollars 
in  following  the  occupation  than  can  be  found  in  their  work 
shops." 

Each  success  of  the  Southern  arms  is  made  the  text  of  new 
encouragement,  and  is  followed  by  ringing  hopeful  editorials  that 
must  have  strengthened  many  a  weary  heart  and  soul  in  the  en 
durance  of  the  multitudinous  privations  that  were  brought  on  by 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  7 

the  war.  "Now  by  St.  George  the  work  goes  bravely  on,"  is 
the  caption  of  an  editorial  following  the  reports  of  August  vic 
tories  in  East  Tennessee. 

THE   COST  OF   LIVING. 

Prices  fluctuated — but  they  "fluctuated"  in  one  direction  main 
ly — upward.  From  the  advertisement  of  J.  C.  McAllister  in  the 
Appeal  of  August  8-15,  1862,  an  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  cost 
of  living  in  those  days.  Among  the  articles  mentioned  are  cotton 
cards,  $10  per  pair;  black  calico,  $i  per  yard;  French  ginghams, 
$1.25  per  yard ;  Coats'  thread,  60  cents  per  spool,  or  $7  per  dozen; 
Madras  handkerchiefs,  $9  per  dozen.  High  though  this  appear, 
it  is  nothing  to  prices  that  later  on  obtained  in  the  beleaguered 
Confederacy. 

The  intense  feeling  shown  by  the  Southern  women,  and  the 
extent  of  their  sacrifice  to  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  forms 
one  of  the  most  notable  chapters  of  war  history,  and  the  story 
of  their  sacrifice  is  beyond  writing.  Many  instances  appear 
from  time  to  time  in  the  Appeal,  one  in  the  issue  of  August  12, 
1862.  The  Yankee  gunboats  were  at  Natchez  and  the  Southern 
soldiers  were  looking  for  them  any  day  at  Vicksburg.  Twelve 
good  guns  were  ready  to  receive  them — everything  ready  for 
action  except  cartridge  bags  for  the  ten-inch  Columbiads.  These 
bags  must  be  made  of  flannel,  and  not  a  yard  of  flannel  could  be 
had  at  any  store  at  the  place.  Messengers  were  sent  to  appeal  to 
men  to  give  their  flannel  shirts  for  use.  The  ladies  heard  of  the 
appeal  and  of  the  absolute  importance  of  the  cartridge  bags.  In 
a  few  hours  no  less  than  five  hundred  cartridge  bags  were  at 
the  headquarters,  made  of  the  flannel  petticoats  of  the  women 
of  Vicksburg.  They  were  sent  to  the  batteries  and  when  the  fleet 
did  arrive,  were  used  in  defense  of  the  place,  throughout  the 
bombardment.  Every  cartridge  bag  used  by  the  ten-inch  Colum 
biads  in  the  bombardment  was  made  of  the  flannel  petticoats  of 
the  women  of  Vicksburg. 

The  "latest  news"  was  very  hard  to  get.  Telegraph  service 
was  very  irregular,  but  under  the  head  "Improving,"  the  Appeal 
of  August  14  mentions  the  fact  that  a  number  of  dispatches  from 
the  North  had  arrived  covering  events  of  the  9th  and  only  a  few 


8  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

hours  after  the  papers  containing  the  same  intelligence.  "Here 
tofore,"  says  the  editor,  "the  lightning  has  been  from  two  to 
four  days  behind,  but  this  effort  makes  some  pretensions  towards 
furnishing  the  very  latest  news."  The  leading  item  of  the  news 
here  referred  to  was  General  T.  J.  Jackson's  official  report  of  the 
late  battle  in  Virginia. 

SOUTHERN  SUCCESSES. 

The  North  so  far  had  been  outgeneraled  and  public  enthusiasm 
North  was  at  a  low  ebb.  The  Northern  press  began  to  call  for 
a  general  waking  up  to  the  importance  of  united  action.  The 
Appeal  meets  this  by  a  call  to  the  South  to  put  every  available 
man  into  the  field,  to  meet  the  enemy  at  the  border,  and  save 
their  homes  and  their  country  from  further  pillage  and  devasta 
tion.  Federal  prospects,  even  to  judge  from  the  Northern  papers, 
were  by  no  means  flattering  in  those  days.  Morgan's  descent 
upon  Gallatin  and  a  general  activity  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee 
were  followed  by  a  report  of  the  capture  of  Nashville  by  the  Con 
federates,  and  this  is  made  the  text  of  another  hopeful  editorial 
on  the  cheering  signs  of  the  situation.  This  is  followed  a  few 
days  later  by  further  successes  in  Middle  Tennessee,  and  by  an 
other  editorial  demonstrating  that  "the  dark  hours  of  the  Con 
federacy  have  passed,  and  a  day  of  glorious  successes,  promising 
as  the  most  ardent  friend  of  Southern  triumph  and  independence 
could  desire,  has  broken  upon  us."  Then  came  the  victories  at 
Manassas,  at  Stevenson,  Ala.,  and  at  Bolivar — the  dawn  of 
brighter  hopes  and  anticipations,  and  more  roseate  views  of  the 
situation.  Indeed  the  chances  of  success  crowning  the  Southern 
arms  never  looked  better. 

The  mails  were  irregular,  and  the  Appeal  contained  frequent 
protests  that  the  service  could  be  improved  and  should  be.  The 
importance  of  clothing  the  Southern  army  for  the  winter  is  urged, 
and  the  Southern  women  again  came  to  the  front  and  loaded  the 
mails  with  socks  and  other  articles  of  wearing  apparel.  The 
ladies  around  Brooks'  chapel  undertook  to  supply  Price's  men, 
and  every  loom  and  wheel  and  knitting  needle  went  to  work, 
giving  "another  sample  as  well  of  the  patriotism  as  of  the  un 
conquerable  spirit  of  our  mothers  and  daughters." 


A  REBEI,  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  9 

THE   PROSPECTS   BRIGHTEN. 

The  details  of  the  battle  of  Manassas  began  to  arrive,  and 
throughout  the  Confederacy  congratulations  upon  the  situation 
were  heard.  The  South  took  hope  again,  and  the  end  of  the 
war  was  confidently  expected.  Apropos  of  the  suppression  of  the 
Union-Appeal,  of  Memphis,  a  paper  that  had  occupied  the  Ap 
peal's  former  quarters,  the  Appeal  expresses  the  hope  that  "the 
authorities  will  keep  the  premises  in  good  order,  as  we  confidently 
expect  to  resume  our  old  quarters  in  a  short  time.'*  In  a  day 
or  two  the  Memphis  Argus  was  suspended  for  publishing  a  report 
which  was  imposed  on  it  of  the  capture  of  Cincinnati  by  the  Con 
federate  troops. 

Jackson  pushed  on  into  Maryland;  success  in  Tennessee  con 
tinued  ;  the  hope  is  entertained  of  driving  the  invader  from  Ten 
nessee,  Kentucky  and  Missouri,  the  great  provision  states  of  the 
Confederacy. 

Some  enthusiastic  friend  remembered  the  editor,  and  a  para 
graph  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  bottle  of  old  brandy  says: 
"It  is  so  old  that  we  fear  it  cannot  live  much  longer." 

The  Federal  troops  were  gradually  closing  in,  and  the  destruc 
tion  of  Prentiss  and  the  capture  of  Senatobia  are  made  the  text 
of  an  editorial  urging  a  movement  forward  to  drive  the  enemy 
out  of  the  State. 

At  an  auction  sale  of  goods  in  Charleston,  September  17,  candles 
brought  $2.40  per  pound,  white  shirt  bosoms  $95  per  dozen,  hoop- 
skirts  $190  per  dozen,  and  tea  $10  per  pound;  higher  than  the 
prices  previously  obtained.  Soon  after  this  it  is  noted  that  flour 
is  declining,  extra  family  bringing  only  $34  per  barrel,  "owing  to 
the  determination  of  the  people  to  eat  corn  bread  rather  than 
give  enormous  prices  for  flour." 

White  paper  is  already  an  article  of  scarcity  and  value,  and 
owing  to  temporary  shortage  the  Appeal  of  September  26  and  27 
contained  but  two  seven-column  pages. 

A   MEMORY  OF  HOME. 

A  memory  of  home,  a  beautiful  bouquet  from  Memphis,  was: 
placed  on  the  editor's  table.  "These  fugitive  flowers,"  he  writes, 
"so  tastefully  arranged,  have  served  to  momentarily  recall  our 


io  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

reflections  from  the  busy  and  eventful  scenes  of  strife  to  which 
the  minds  of  all  have  been  so  long  accustomed;  and  for  this 
respite  our  friend  who  has  placed  the  souvenir  on  our  table  has 
our  thanks." 

The  repulse  of  Price  and  Van  Dorn  brought  affairs  in  Mis 
sissippi  to  a  crisis,  apparently,  but  with  the  indomitable  courage 
and  energy  that  had  ever  characterized  the  paper,  the  situation 
is  reviewed  but  one  day  later  and  pronounced  more  favorable 
than  had  been  supposed.  But  Bragg  had  to  fall  back,  abandon 
ing  Kentucky,  and  telegraph  connection  was  interrupted  again. 

Early  in  November  the  Federal  authorities  in  Memphis  re 
solved  upon  a  stroke  which  they  imagined  would  stop  the  cease 
less  firing  upon  their  boats.  An  order  was,  therefore,  issued 
that  for  every  boat  fired  upon  by  the  Southern  troops,  ten  families 
would  be  exiled  from  Memphis.  This  order  was  carried  out 
and  resulted  in  much  hardship  to  the  defenseless  women  and 
children,  who  were  driven  out  and  left  uncared  for  wherever 
they  might  be  sent  beyond  the  Federal  lines.  In  the  Appeal  of 
various  dates  are  advertisements  that  "Mr.  —  — 's  family  have 

been  driven  from  Memphis  by  the  Federals  and  are  at  -  , 

where  they  may  be  addressed  by  him." 

Mails  became  more  and  more  irregular  and  a  real  crisis  was 
approaching  for  Mississippi ;  the  Federals  planned  a  systematic 
invasion  for  the  winter,  and  these  plans  were  promptly  carried 
out.  Troops  appeared  in  northern  Mississippi ;  their  raids  became 
more  and  more  bold,  and  approached  nearer  Grenada. 

At  this  time  an  informal  negotiation  was  opened  with  the 
Appeal  to  return  to  Memphis,  assurances  being  received  "that 
in  the  event  of  our  removal  of  the  Appeal  office  to  that  city,  the 
publication  of  our  paper  will  be  permitted  unmolested  by  the 
authorities,  and  our  rights  of  person  and  property  respected." 
The  paper,  however,  did  not  return,  "We  have  chosen  our  lot," 
.says  the  editor,  "and  we  will  abide  the  consequences." 

THE   FEDERALS    WERE  AROUND. 

The  Federals  were  around  Grenada  and  the  supplies  cut  off. 
Not  the  least  interesting  of  these  papers  appear  late  in  November, 
after  the  supply  of  printers'  ink  was  exhausted,  common  blacking 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  u 

being  for  several  days  used  instead.  And  though  the  Appeal 
did  rK>t  return  to  Memphis,  yet  it  left  Grenada.  After  the  issue 
of  November  29,  there  is  no  other  issue  until  the  I3th  of  Decem 
ber,  when  it  appears  under  the  Jackson,  Miss.,  date.  In  the  last 
days  of  November  Grenada  was  in  rather  too  close  proximity 
to  the  headquarters  of  General  Grant,  who  was  seeking  to  make 
the  acquaintance  of  General  Pemberton  at  Abbeville,  and  when 
the  Federal  cavalry  were  fast  approaching  the  north  bank  of  the 
Tallahatchie,  after  Grant  had  driven  Pemberton  from  Abbeville, 
the  Appeal  "retired,"  taking  up  its  abode  in  the  capital  of  Mis 
sissippi,  where  it  remained  until  the  1/j.th  of  May,  1863.  Decem 
ber  13,  1862,  the  initial  number  of  the  Jackson  issue  of  the  Appeal 
appeared,  with  a  notice  of  the  change  of  location  at  the  head  of 
the  editorial  column.  It  is  asked  that  all  mail  be  sent  hereafter 
to  Jackson,  and  a  promise  is  given  to  make  up  to  all  subscribers 
the  interval  of  two  weeks  lost  in  the  removal  of  the  office.  In 
making  their  bow  to  the  citizens  of  Jackson,  the  Appeal  expresses 
regret  at  having  to  move,  and  pleasure  in  the  contemplation  that 
"though  driven  from  home,  we  are  not  among  strangers." 

"The  Appeal,"  it  continues,  "has  ever  met  a  generous  welcome 
and  received  a  cordial  support  at  the  hands  of  the  people  of  Mis 
sissippi,  and  so  long  as  we  are  privileged  to  remain  within  her 
borders,  we  shall  feel  that  we  are  among  friends  and  brethren. 
Hoping  that  we  have  been  and  may  yet  be  of  some  service  to 
the  State,  we  have  a  desire  verging  upon  ambition  to  keep  our 
paper  alive  during  the  war.  By  dint  of  our  own  energy  and  the 
blessings  of  good  fortune,  we  have  thus  far  been  able  to  keep  in 
advance  of  the  enemy's  lines,  and  would  fain  hope  that  we  have 
now  made  our  last  retrograde  move.  Should  the  enemy  permit 
us  to  remain  in  our  present  location  until  wild  war's  deadly 
blast  is  blown,  and  until  gentle  peace  shall  have  assumed  her 
benignant  sway  over  the  land,  we  shall  have  ample  cause  to  re 
joice  at  the  sacrifices  we  have  made  in  keeping  our  office  out  of 
the  clutches  of  the  enemy." 

THE  OFFICE  AT  JACKSON. 

The  Jackson  office  was  on  State  street,  a  few  doors  below  the 
post  office  and  a  meager  exchange  list  for  a  time  troubled  thr 


12  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

paper,  as  papers  kept  on  directing  to  Grenada,  and  little  of  the 
mail  matter  got  to  Jackson  until  too  late  for  use.  In  the  issue 
of  December  15  a  paragraph  is  published  that  at  an  election  in 
Oberlin,  Ohio,  sixty-seven  negroes  were  allowed  to  vote.  The 
names  of  the  darkies  are  published  and  the  thing  "proven  beyond 
all  doubt.  It  is  supposed  that  the  negroes  voted  in  other  town 
ships,  and  an  examination  is  now  going  on  to  ascertain  the  facts." 
The  fiercest  resistance  is  counseled  to  "the  army  of  that  people 
who  have  permitted  this  outrage." 

A  scarcity  of  paper  again  caused  a  reduction  in  the  size  of  the 
paper  to  seven,  and  afterwards  to  six  columns,  for  more  than  a 
week,  though  the  announcement  is  made  that  "we  have  an  agent 
at  the  mills  in  Georgia,  and  hope,  in  a  short  time,  to  be  enabled 
to  greet  our  readers  again  on  a  sheet  of  our  usual  size." 

Salt  is  advertised  at  $30  a  bushel. 

Christmas  eve  comes  the  news  that  Holly  Springs  has  been 
captured.  Not  a  word  of  the  holiday  season.  The  paper  is  issued 
on  the  afternoon  of  Christmas,  but  the  matter  is  identical  with 
that  of  the  previous  day,  except  something  less  than  half  a  column 
of  fresh  news.  Still  there  is  not  one  word  of  the  Christmas 
season,  even  an  indirect  reference  to  the  festival,  nor  an  adver 
tisement  of  Christmas  goods  for  sale.  What  more  pathetic !  The 
pinching  necessities  of  the  times  left  neither  opportunity  nor 
ability  of  observance.  There  was  half  a  day  of  rest,  and  no  doubt 
in  the  editor's  sanctum  were  gathered  a  company  of  exiles  who 
talked  of  the  Christmas  cheer  of  other  days,  but  the  memories 
were  not  for  publication.  They  were  but  the  reminiscences  of 
gathered  friends. 

On  the  26th  President  Davis  addressed  an  immense  audience 
at  Jackson. 

THE  DEATH   OF  THE  OLD  YEAR. 

The  old  year  passed  away  and  1863  dawned,  but  there  is  no 
observance  or  mention  of  it,  except  a  hopeful  editorial  on  the 
progress  of  the  war,  beginning  "The  new  year  breaks  in  upon  us 
with  cheering  beams  of  hope  and  promise.  Our  arms  are  every 
where  successful,  our  troops  in  the  main  in  high  health  and 
spirits,  while  the  enemy  are  reported  as  disheartened  and  de 
spondent." 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  13 

On  the  8th  of  January  appears  a  notice  that  the  Appeal  would 
like  to  make  arrangements  for  a  supply  of  good,  dry  wood. 

The  main  question  discussed  at  the  meeting  of  the  Southern 
Press  Association  about  this  time  was  the  importance  of  some 
movement  to  diminish  the  consumption  of  white  paper,  the  supply 
of  which  threatened  to  fail  altogether.  No  decision  was  reached, 
however,  as  the  problem  was  evidently  one  for  which  there  could 
be  no  solution. 

In  the  Appeal  of  January  17  appears  an  advertisement  of  M. 
Stern  &  Co.,  indignantly  denying  the  report  that  the  flour  sold  by 
them  was  mixed  with  sand.  These  gentlemen  assert  that  the  only 
foundation  for  this  damaging  report  was  the  fact  that  they  were 
selling  flour  at  $65  a  barrel,  for  which  other  dealers  were  charg 
ing  $80.  Good  coffee  is  advertised  at  $3.75  per  pound. 

The  campaign  in  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  was  growing  more 
and  more  a  center  of  observation,  and  the  food  question  in  the 
latter  State  became  an  important  one.  For  the  coming  planting 
season  the  advice  was  given  to  plant  but  little  cotton  and  much 
grain,  thus  supplying  the  food  demand  at  home  and  depriving  the 
Yankees  of  the  cotton,  of  which  they  were  beginning  to  feel  the 
need. 

STIRRING  TIMES  AT  VICKSBURG. 

Times  began  to  be  stirring  around  Vicksburg.  Fifty  transports 
and  three  gunboats  arrived,  and  the  siege  went  on.  Cannonading 
could  be  heard  almost  daily.  January  31,  after  having  for  six 
weeks  appeared  on  paper  of  varying  shapes  and  small  sizes,  the 
Appeal  received  a  supply  of  larger  paper,  and  resumed  its  eight 
column  form,  discarding  the  nonpareil  type  made  necessary  by  the 
limited  space,  of  which  there  had  been  numerous  complaints  from 
its  readers. 

During  the  early  part  of  February  the  capture  of  the  Cairo,  the 
Queen  of  the  West,  and  the  Indianola,  three  Federal  vessels,  did 
much  to  cheer  the  whole  Confederacy.  This  disposed  of  all  the 
enemy's  vessels  on  the  Mississippi  between  Port  Hudson  and 
Vicksburg,  and  added  three  really  formidable  ironclads  to  Con 
federate  resources. 

Refugees  were  still  arriving  from  Memphis,  and  still  adver 
tising  for  missing  members  of  their  families.  Mr.  J.  B.  Elam  is 


14  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

notified  by  advertisement,  March  10,  that  he  can  find  his  family 
at  the  Pearce  House,  in  Canton,  Miss. 

Rapidly  increasing  prices  of  supplies,  the  high  cost  of  white 
paper  and  the  increased  rate  for  composition,  forced  an  advance, 
March  12,  in  the  price  of  the  paper  from  $1.50  to  $2.50  per 
month,  and  the  price  to  news  agents  was  at  the  same  time  raised 
from  seven  to  ten  cents  per  copy.  The  weekly  was  advanced  to 
$4  per  year,  and  the  express  condition  made  that  no  subscriptions 
thereafter  would  be  received  for  a  longer  period  than  two  months 
in  advance. 

By  President  Davis'  order,  March  27  was  observed  as  a  day  of 
general  fasting  and  prayer. 

The  first  day  of  April  the  Appeal  was  visited  by  Mr.  J.  S. 
Thrasher,  general  superintendent  of  the  Press  Association  of  the 
Confederate  States,  who  was  appointing  correspondents  and  ar 
ranging  other  matters  connected  with  a  better  press  service.  He 
went  from  Jackson  to  Vicksburg  to  arrange  for  full  dispatches 
from  the  front.  Morning  and  afternoon  or  evening  editions  of 
the  Appeal  were  now  published. 

LETTER    PAPER    AND    WHISKEY    HIGH. 

Letter  paper  is  reported  as  selling  at  $5  per  quire  at  Shreve- 
port,  which  occasions  the  editorial  observation  that  "enough  of 
the  article  ought  to  be  impressed  upon  which  to  write  the  seller's 

passport  to the  other  side  of  Jordan."  A  few  days  later  is 

chronicled  the  burning  of  the  largest  paper  mills  in  the  Con 
federacy,  in  South  Carolina,  near  Augusta,  Ga. — a  loss  to  the 
entire  South. 

Whiskey  is  quoted  at  $2.50  a  drink  in  Arkansas,  "and  the  bar 
keeper  does  the  measuring."  Strawberries  at  two  dollars  a  quart 
are  reported  as  offered  for  sale — "forbidden  fruit  to  us"  says  the 
editor. 

Vicksburg  is  now  threatened  by  land  and  sea.  Firing  was 
heard  every  day,  and  it  was  recognized  that  the  next  thirty  days 
were  big  with  important  events.  Mississippi  was  going  through 
with  what  to  her  was  the  most  trying  ordeal  of  the  war.  Federal 
forces  were  marauding  over  the  State,  and  the  Appeal  calls  in 
burning  language  upon  every  man  in  the  State  to  rise  and  drive 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  15 

out  the  hateful  foe.  May  opened  with  a  Yankee  raid  on  the  New 
Orleans,  Jackson  &  Great  Northern  Railroad,  interrupting  com 
munication  between  Jackson  and  the  South,  and  firing  was  heard 
along  the  Yazoo.  The  Confederate  soldiers  are  pressed  for  food, 
and  crying  "Once  more  to  the  breach"  the  Appeal  calls  upon  the 
women  and  children  of  every  neighborhood  to  feed  such  as  are 
camped  within  reach. 

May  4  Jackson  was  full  of  rumors  and  canards  of  the  most 
exciting  description,  but  the  Appeal  decries  the  existence  of  a 
panic,  still,  however,  paying  close  attention  to  Grant's  movements. 
The  issue  of  May  n  chronicles  the  death  of  Stonewall  Jackson, 
and  follows  with  an  editorial  on  the  bright  outlook  of  the  coming 
spring.  Some  one  having  circulated  the  report  that  the  Appeal 
was  getting  ready  to  move  its  office  from  Jackson,  as  the  Federals 
came  nearer  and  nearer,  the  Appeal  disclaims  a  belief  that  the 
foe  can  take  the  capital  of  Mississippi,  and  expresses  a  hope  that 
the  Southern  forces  can  drive  the  Federals  back.  "More  than  a 
week  has  passed,  and  we  have  every  reason  to  be  hopeful— nay, 
confident.  Entertaining  these  views,  our  friends  will  continue 
to  hear  from  us  as  before,  until  the  evening  and  the  morning  of 
the  last  day  of  even  probable  security." 

SHELLED  OUT  OF  JACKSON. 

And  the  Appeal  kept  its  word.  But  it  was  shelled  out  of  Jack 
son  on  the  1 4th  of  May,  when  Grant  made  his  famous  move 
from  Bruinsburg,  by  which  he  isolated  Pemberton,  and  shut  him 
up  in  Vicksburg,  to  be  bagged  thereafter  on  the  Fourth  of  July. 
The  printing  press  made  its  escape  down  the  Southern  Railroad 
to  Meridian,  and  thence  at  its  leisure  to  Atlanta.  Generals  Grant 
and  Sherman  were  certain  that  they  were  about  to  bag  the  Appeal 
beyond  peradventure,  as  their  scouts  had  furnished  them  with  a 
copy  of  that  morning's  issue,  fresh  and  damp  from  the  press — but 
they  didn't.  As  they  came  in  one  way  the  Appeal  went  out  the 
other  way,  with  full  forty  rounds  of  shot  and  shell  making  a 
pother  over  its  head  before  it  could  get  safely  out  of  the  way  of 
those  impatient  commanders.  The  printing  press  went  on  to 
Atlanta,  but  with  the  proof  press  and  a  few  cases  of  type,  the 
Appeal  for  about  a  week  kept  getting  out  small  extras  daily  at 


16  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

Meridian.  Then  the  paper  moved  on  to  the  pleasant  city  of  At 
lanta,  thinking  to  be  well  out  of  the  way  of  Grant  and  Sherman 
both. 

In  making  their  debut  in  Atlanta  and  explaining  that  they  did 
not  move  till  they  had  to,  the  Appeal's  editors  mention  with 
evident  enjoyment  the  fact  that  one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  enemy 
in  Jackson  was  to  inquire  "as  to  our  whereabouts,  and  they  were 
not  slow  in  expressing  their  rage  at  our  escape.  We  flatter  our 
selves,  our  evacuation  was  a  masterly  one — and  it  was  accom 
plished  without  loss,  notwithstanding  a  number  of  shots  were 
fired  across  Pearl  river  at  our  rear  guard  by  the  disappointed 
yankees." 

THE   DEBUT   IN   ATLANTA. 

In  casting  its  lot  with  the  people  of  Georgia,  the  purpose  is 
announced  to  refrain  from  all  interference  in  domestic  affairs 
and  dissensions  in  the  state.  "To  the  Confederacy  we  owe  our 
first  great  duty,  and  when  we  have  faithfully  performed  that  duty, 
we  shall  have  accomplished  the  object  of  our  highest  ambition 
in  the  present  unsettled  condition  of  the  country." 

The  correspondence  and  reporting  corps  were  enlarged  and  ar 
rangements  made  for  publishing  full  and  reliable  information. 
All  paid  subscribers  are  notified  that  the  time  lost  will  be  added 
to  the  time  their  subscriptions  have  still  to  run.  A  job  office  was 
also  opened  in  connection  with  the  newspaper,  which  was  pro 
vided  with  all  facilities  and  materials  "suitable  for  the  finest 
work." 

Despite  all  the  trials  and  privations  of  war,  there  were  many 
pleasant  days  in  Atlanta.  The  office  was  located  on  Whitehall 
street,  between  Decatur  street  and  the  Atlanta  and  West  Point 
Railroad,  and  was  the  resort  of  many  men  then  or  since  famous 
in  the  annals  of  the  South,  as  soldiers,  editors,  preachers,  poli 
ticians  and  business  men.  Among  their  co-workers  were  Albert 
Roberts,  erstwhile  of  the  Chattanooga  Rebel,  which  had  then 
gone  down  to  Marietta  to  be  published;  and  Henry  Watterson, 
both  at  times  managing  editor  of  the  Atlanta  Confederacy,  and 
many  others,  many  of  them  exiles  like  Colonels  Dill  and  McClana- 
han,  of  the  Appeal.  There  was  too  much  life  and  activity  to 
admit  of  dullness,  and  the  hard  and  constant  work  left  no  time, 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  17 

had  there  been  any  inclination  for  repining.  The  course  of 
events  was  closely  followed.  Every  victory  brought  exultation, 
and  even  defeat  was  not  allowed  to  pass  without  some  consola 
tory  view  of  the  situation.  When  printer's  ink  gave  out,  black 
ing  was  used  to  print  the  paper,  and  no  doubt  they  were  some 
times  glad  to  get  blacking.  The  sacrifices  on  all  sides  had  long 
been  too  common  to  be  made  note  of,  men,  women  and  children 
putting  aside  every  interest  except  that  of  the  common  defense, 
and  lending  to  that  every  aid  in  their  power.  Sometimes  news 
was  very  hard  to  get.  Telegraph  facilities  were  meager  at  best 
and  frequently,  just  when  important  news  was  expected  from 
the  front,  the  wires  were  down — but  what  could  not  be  remedied 
was  most  philosophically  endured.  "Dixie's"  letters  from  Rich 
mond  continued  to  give  bright  and  crisp  reviews  of  current 
events.  "Shadow's"  letters  from  Chattanooga,  now  a  most  im 
portant  seat  of  war,  kept  the  reader  posted  on  occurrences  and 
movements  thereabout.  The  "Shadow"  letters  were  written  by 
two  gentlemen  then,  and  afterwards,  distinguished  in  journalism 
— Albert  Roberts  and  Henry  Watterson. 

TENNESSEE  NOMINEES. 

About  the  middle  of  June  the  Tennessee  state  convention  at 
Winchester  nominated  Caruthers  for  Governor,  his  competitors 
for  nomination  being  Bate,  Whitthorne  and  Bailey.  The  con 
gressional  nominations  for  the  several  districts  were  Joseph  B. 
Heiskell  from  the  First,  Wm.  S.  Swann  from  the  Second,  A.  S. 
Colyar  from  the  Third,  John  P.  Murray  from  the  Fourth,  Henry 
S.  Foote  from  the  Fifth,  Edwin  A.  Keeble  from  the  Sixth,  James 
McCollum  from  the  Seventh,  Thomas  Menees  from  the  Eighth, 
J.  D.  C.  Atkins  from  the  Ninth,  John  V.  Wright  from  the  Tenth 
and  David  McCullen  from  the  Eleventh.  When  the  election  was 
held,  Tennesseans  throughout  the  Confederacy  voted  wherever 
they  chanced  to  be,  and  the  poll  at  Atlanta  showed  the  presence 
of  a  large  number  of  exiled  citizens  from  the  Volunteer  State. 
The  gubernatorial  nominee  himself  was  at  the  time  of  nomination 
and  election  an  exile  from  his  home,  as  was  almost,  if  not  quite, 
every  man  named  for  Congress. 


1 8  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

TRIALS  NEVER  SUFFERED  BEFORE. 

The  emancipation  proclamation  had  been  issued,  but  all  the 
same  a  Charleston  broker  and  auctioneer  is  mentioned  as  having 
sold  twenty-five  negroes  ranging  from  two  to  sixty  years  for  the 
aggregate  sum  of  $41,875,  an  average  of  $1,671  apiece.  And  yet 
these  prices  were  low,  compared  with  the  prices  of  other  articles, 
for  among  all  the  terrible  trials  that  befell  the  Confederacy  this 
year,  trials  the  like  of  which  have  not  happened  to  other  people 
in  modern  days,  was  a  currency  that  had  become  nearly  worthless. 
The  railway  system  was  so  worn  as  to  be  incapable  of  transport 
ing  supplies  promptly;  the  most  fertile  regions  were  desolated 
and  a  scarcity  existed  in  the  entire  crops ;  the  blockade  was  so 
stringent  as  to  practically  cut  off  the  outer  world ;  almost  every 
man  that  could  be  spared  was  in  the  army ;  the  Federal  troops 
invaded  their  towns  and  states,  freed  their  slaves  and  enrolled 
them  in  its  army;  defied  their  retaliation,  captured  their  strong 
holds,  divided  their  territory,  defeated  their  armies  and  held  the 
constantly  increasing  number  of  prisoners  without  exchange ; 
their  own  territory  was  growing  less  and  less,  themselves  un 
recognized  among  nations — any  other  people  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  would  have  succumbed,  would  have  proposed  terms  of 
peace. 

But  the  South  held  on.  Her  financial  troubles  came  to  a  crisis 
and  the  short  grain  crops  of  the  previous  year  brought  almost  a 
universal  famine  upon  the  people.  In  many  places  the  starving 
women  organized  and  burst  open  the  government  storehouses  to 
obtain  food.  The  impressment  of  food  supplies  by  the  govern 
ment  was  but  a  brief  and  momentary  relief,  and  even  that  only  in 
a  few  localities.  The  price  per  pound  of  some  of  the  articles  of 
common  use  were  as  follows:  Bacon  $3,  lard  $2.10,  butter  $4, 
coffee  $10,  sugar  $5.  And  these  prices  of  1863  were  by  no  means 
the  climax. 

WORKING  UNDER  DIFFICULTIES. 

The  publishers  of  the  Appeal  had  great  difficulty  in  getting 
white  paper  and  ink  with  which  to  get  out  their  paper.  Though 
their  rates  were  high,  they  were  low  as  compared  with  the  prices 
they  had  to  pay,  and  the  price  of  subscription  was  advanced 
from  $2.50  a  month  in  June  to  $3  the  latter  part  of  July.  In 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  19 

January,  1864,  it  was  increased  to  $4  a  month,  again  in  March 
to  $5,  ^and  shortly  afterward  the  notice  appears  that  the  present 
currency  would  only  be  received  at  two-thirds  of  the  face  value. 
Agents  were  supplied  at  18  cents  per  copy,  the  retail  price  being 
25  cents  a  copy. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year,  in  spite  of  numerous  reverses, 
the  military  power  of  the  Confederacy  was  regarded  by  its  citi 
zens  as  able  to  cope  very  strongly  with  its  adversary,  and  was 
far  from  being  either  shattered  or  broken.  A  hopeful  aspect 
was  presented  until  there  came  in  quick  succession  the  disaster 
at  Gettysburg,  the  loss  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  the  falling 
back  of  General  Bragg,  and  the  success  of  General  Gilmore  at 
Charleston.  When  it  became  known  that  in  spite  of  all  that 
human  valor  and  devotion  could  do,  Vicksburg  and  its  defenders 
became  the  prey  of  the  enemy,  it  was  realized  that  the  tug  of  war, 
the  political  crisis  had  come.  The  Appeal  sounded  the  absolute 
necessity  of  prompt  and  energetic  action,  with  a  view  to  self- 
protection,  and  called  on  every  man  to  join  in  striking  a  decisive 
blow  that  should  break  the  power  of  the  invader.  The  late 
changes  in  Middle  Tennessee  had  given  the  question  a  more  seri 
ous  aspect  than  it  had  hitherto  borne,  and  particularly  to  the  people 
of  Georgia,  Alabama  and  Tennessee.  July  7  throughout  the  State 
of  Georgia  according  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Governor, 
business  was  suspended  and  the  people  of  every  locality  met  and 
organized  for  the  home  defense.  In  calling  on  them  to  take  every 
possible  step,  the  Appeal  tersely  says,  "they  must  either  drive  the 
Yankees  out  of  the  country  or  be  overrun  and  robbed  by  them." 

THE   FALL  OF  VICKSBURG. 

The  fall  of  Vicksburg,  already  reported  and  believed,  was  not 
confirmed  by  the  Appeal's  advices  until  the  9th  of  July.  Then, 
in  the  face  of  this  appalling  calamity,  and  despite  the  irretrievable 
loss  of  this  strategic  point,  the  indomitable  hopefulness  of  the 
Appeal  shone  out  amid  the  dark  and  gloom,  as  bright  as  ever  in 
the  hour  of  victory.  After  taking  a  brief  glance  at  the  gloomy 
side  of  the  question,  the  paper  concludes  that  the  Yankees  have 
bought  their  victory  at  a  dear  price;  that  even  with  an  army  of 
one  hundred  thousand  men  and  thirteen  gunboats  doing  police 


2O  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

duty,  navigation  of  the  river  was  but  a  hazardous  experiment, 
and  the  people  of  the  Northwest  would  soon  realize  the  futility 
and  absurdity  of  their  senseless  cry  of  "free  navigation."  "Free 
navigation  is  a  barren  privilege  in  the  absence  of  commerce  and 
trade,  and  these  can  be  restored  only  on  the  return  of  peace.  We 
think  even  the  dark  side  of  the  picture  has  its  bright  spots.  Come 
what  may,  we  shall  not  despond,  or  despair  of  the  Republic." 

Again,  a  few  days  later,  in  an  editorial  on  the  past,  present  and 
future  of  the  war,  the  conclusion  is  again  reached  that  the  enorm 
ous  cost  of  Vicksburg  to  the  yankees  has  made  it  a  dear  victory, 
and  that  "the  experience  of  the  past  year  teaches  the  important 
fact  that  we  are  far  more  able  to  carry  on  a  protracted  war  of 
defense  against  our  enemy  than  they  are  to  wage  one  of  aggres 
sion  upon  us.  Already  many  of  their  own  statesmen  and  organs 
are  beginning  to  argue  and  discuss  the  absolute  necessity  of  the 
ultimate  repudiation  of  their  war  debt,  which  cannot  fail  to  bring 
upon  their  people  and  government  ruin  and  dishonor.  .  .  .  Let 
us  then  not  court  despair,  but  summon  courage,  and  with  Nil 
Desperandum  for  our  motto,  and  a  merciful  and  just  God  to 
guide  us,  we  shall  evoke  victory  from  the  cannon's  mouth." 

FURTHER  SOUTHERN   REVERSES. 

Later  in  July  came  a  silence  of  the  wires  for  days,  "ominous 
of  evil,  we  fear,"  followed  by  the  news  of  the  occupation  of 
Jackson.  A  week  later  come  letters  from  Jackson  over  two  weeks 
in  route,  "too  late  for  publication,  the  situation  having  entirely 
changed." 

Lee  retreats  from  Pennsylvania,  and  under  the  caption,  "Never 
Despond  or  Despair,"  there  is  an  editorial  beginning,  "True 
manhood  and  heroic  courage  never  despair,  but  rise  superior  to 
the  calamities  that  befall  them."  Then  follows  a  determined 
effort  to  show  how  many  stars  of  hope  and  encouragement  were 
still  shining  through  the  dark  clouds  of  gloom,  and  the  people 
are  called  on  to  rally  once  more  while  "the  yankees  are  now  in 
an  admirable  position  to  receive  a  severe  drubbing,  in  the  heart 
of  our  country,  a  long  way  from  their  gunboats  and  water 
courses." 

Elsewhere  in  the  Confederacy,  many  were  convinced  that  in- 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  21 

dependence  was  unattainable,  but  if  there  were  any  such  senti 
ment  in  Atlanta,  the  Appeal  did  not  reflect  it.  The  last  day  of 
July  there  is  another  editorial,  "No  Cause  for  Despondency, " 
counseling  the  careful  husbanding  of  resources  and  declaring 
that  the  South  might  have  ample  cause  to  hope  for  ultimate  suc 
cess,  even  "though  much  weaker  than  she  really  is.  He  is  more 
than  doubly  armed  who  fights  in  a  righteous  cause  and  on  the 
defensive." 

These  hopeful  extracts  are  given  as  a  marked  feature  of  the 
Appeal's  war  history.  It  never  lost  hope  or  faith,  and  who  can 
tell  the  inspiriting  effect  of  this  hopefulness  upon  its  soldier 
readers?  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  South  could  hardly  be  con 
quered  when  its  people  were  animated  by  a  spirit  like  this  ? 

THE  SLOW  PROGRESS  OF  EVENTS. 

And  yet  the  Appeal  did  not  believe  in  creating  a  false  impres 
sion,  for  more  than  one  strong  editorial  is  directed  against  those 
"who  are  humbugging  themselves  and  others"  by  belittling  the 
numbers  of  the  enemy;  "if  their  numbers  are  not  more  than 
stated,  Southern  arms  will  be  disgraced  if  they  are  not  whipped 
in  thirty  days.  Let  us  no  longer  be  humbugged.  To  be  fore 
warned  is  to  be  forearmed." 

August  was  characterized  by  little  to  be  mentioned  here.  The 
column  of  the  enemy  closed  in,  and  September  found  Bragg  still 
slowly  backing  away  as  the  Federals  advanced.  Then,  weeks  of 
fighting  around  and  south  of  Chattanooga.  Want  pinched  closer 
and  closer,  and  made  even  more  rigid  economy  necessary.  The 
Federal  program  for  the  subjugation  of  the  South,  it  was  be 
lieved  at  this  time,  would  terminate  with  the  capture  of  Atlanta, 
and  the  Appeal  in  publishing  the  information  calls  for  a  defense 
that  will  make  the  city  a  place  of  political  historic  renown. 

Late  in  November  and  early  in  December  there  were  but  vague 
and  indefinite  reports  from  the  front,  and  little  to  claim  mention 
here  directly  concerning  the  Appeal.  December  9  Blind  Tcm 
gave  a  performance  for  the  benefit  of  sick  and  wounded  soldiers. 
December  10  was  observed  throughout  Georgia,  Alabama  and 
Mississippi  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer. 

The  second  Christmas  in  exile  was  marked  by  no  particular 


22  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

observance.  But  there  is  an  editorial  on  the  poor,  and  an  appeal 
for  remembering  the  ''numberless  mothers  and  little  boys  and 
girls  without  fire,  with  scant  clothing  and  naked  feet."  Another 
editorial  on  the  day  speaks  of  Christmas  customs  and  reunions 
and  concludes :  "And  though  many  of  us  may  be  absent  from 
home,  in  the  hospitals  and  elsewhere,  let  home,  with  all  its  images 
of  father,  or  mother,  or  brother  and  sister,  with  its  memories,  its 
hopes,  its  joys,  be  intellectually,  as  though  actually  present;  and 
let  the  reunion  of  heart  and  mind  be  as  complete  as  though  we 
are  not  absent  in  the  body.  And,  above  all,  let  those  of  us  who 
are  at  home  not  forget  those  among  us  who  are  away  from  home, 
in  the  withholding  or  denial  of  any  little  attention  or  accustomed 
civility,  kindness  or  hospitality ;  for,  as  it  is  a  day  peculiarly  of 
gifts,  it  is  a  day  when  gifts  are  twice  blessed,  blessed  to  him  that 
receives,  more  blessed  to  him  that  gives." 

HELPING  MORGAN'S  MEN. 

In  January  over  $10,000  was  raised  in  Atlanta  by  subscription 
toward  mounting  Morgan's  men  and  equipping  them  for  service 
again,  and  $2,500  was  added  to  this  amount  by  a  concert  given  by 
the  ladies  of  Atlanta. 

On  the  1 9th  of  January  the  Appeal  began  the  publication  of 
both  morning  and  evening  editions,  the  fresh  matter  of  the  morn 
ing  edition  appearing  on  the  first  page,  and  that  of  the  evening 
on  the  second.  This  change  was  made  to  reach  their  subscribers 
on  the  Augusta  &  Macon  and  Western  roads  one  day  earlier  than 
heretofore. 

January  28,  Mrs.  S.  C.  Law  passed  through  Atlanta,  with 
five  hundred  blankets  and  one  thousand  five  hundred  pairs  of 
socks,  a  contribution  of  the  ladies  of  Columbus,  Ga.,  to  the  needy 
soldiers  of  General  Johnston's  army.  On  the  same  day  some 
other  ladies  are  rebuked  editorially  for  having  made  the  rounds 
of  the  city  soliciting  contributions  for  putting  a  carpet  in  the 
parsonage  of  one  of  the  churches.  "In  times  like  these,"  suggests 
the  Appeal,  "when  numbers  of  our  soldiers  in  the  field  are  suffer 
ing  for  covering  to  shield  them  from  the  chilling  blasts  of  winter, 
and  their  families  at  home  suffering  for  the  actual  necessaries  of 
life,  it  is  not  only  not  commendable,  but  is  reprehensible.  If 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  23 

any  of  our  ministers  have  carpets  on  their  floors,  it  is  their  duty 
at  once  to  convert  them  into  blankets  and  send  them  to  the  army. 
Let  us  hope  these  no  doubt  well-intentioned  ladies  will  think  bet 
ter  of  their  enterprise  and  give  their  charities  a  more  deserving 
and  wholesome  direction."  This  shows  the  spirit  of  the  times, 
that  all  there  was  in  the  South  should  be  devoted  to  the  South 
and  to  the  army  that  was  fighting  its  battles.  We  hear  no  more 
of  the  carpet  enterprise. 

An  item  in  the  Appeal  of  February  8,  shows  that  the  price  of 
white  paper  has  passed  $47.50  per  ream,  in  forty  ream  lots.  This 
made  a  newspaper  an  expensive  thing  at  best,  and  a  few  days 
later  we  find  a  notice  that  the  cost  is  being  wrongly  increased 
by  newsboys  who  have  charged  a  number  of  gentlemen  fifty 
cents  a  copy,  when  the  price  was  rightfully  but  twenty-five  cents 
a  copy. 

An  earnest  appeal  is  made  for  the  planting  of  as  large  crops 
of  breadstuffs  as  possible,  the  intention  being  quite  evident  on  the 
Yankees'  part  "to  starve  us  into  submission."  Attention  is  called 
also  to  a  large  number  of  idle  boys  in  the  city  who  "ought  to  be 
doing  something  for  their  country,  either  with  a  musket  or  a 
plow." 

PRICES    GO    HIGHER   AND    HIGHER. 

Quinine  is  quoted  at  $200  an  ounce,  and  people's  faces  have 
grown  so  long  that  the  barbers  charge  a  dollar  for  a  shave.  The 
butchers  put  up  the  price  of  beef  to  three  dollars  a  pound,  and 
bacon  was  selling  at  the  same  price.  Note  is  made  of  the  fact  that 
a  man  who  had  invested  $3,300,  his  entire  savings,  in  one  thou 
sand  one  hundred  pounds  of  bacon,  had  his  smokehouse  broken 
open  and  his  entire  meat  supply  stolen.  Incendiary  fires  for  pur 
poses  of  robbery  were  daily  reported.  But  with  the  approach  of 
spring  hopeful  feelings  returned  and  the  Appeal  declares  that  the 
gloomiest  days  of  the  Confederacy  have  passed. 

March  25  E.  M.  Edwardy  advertises  that  until  April  I  only  he 
will  sell  ten  pounds  of  granulated  sugar  for  one  hundred  dollars  or 
six  and  two-third  pounds  of  coffee  for  the  same  amount.  Mobile 
prices  are  said  to  be  lower  than  Atlanta  prices,  as  in  Mobile 
corn  meal  is  only  $7  a  bushel;  peas,  $12;  potatoes,  $12;  pork, 
$4  a  pound  and  butter  $10  to  $15  a  pound  according  to  quality. 


24  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

Richmond  quotes  per  pound :  soap,  $4 ;  candles,  $5.25 ;  dried 
apples,  $2.37^  and  peaches,  $2.50.  Mobile  hotel  rates  are  said 
to  be  $15  a  day,  "an  example  well  worthy  of  imitation  in  Atlanta, 
where  the  rates  are  outrageous."  Onions  may  be  had  in  bunches 
of  one  dozen  small  ones  for  $2  a  bunch.  "A  love  of  a  bonnet" 
is  described  which  may  be  had  at  $1,000. 

Meantime  the  enemy  was  drawing  nearer.  May  9,  they  were 
at  Rome,  and  closer  and  "closer  they  came  to  Atlanta.  The 
movements  are  chronicled  daily  until  June  24,  when  an  impor 
tant  movement,  "which  we  cannot  mention,"  had  taken  place. 
No  press  reports  were  received  for  three  days,  the  wires  all 
being  cut  by  the  army  of  siege  around  Atlanta.  The  effect  was 
depressing  on  all.  On  the  27th  and  28th  firing  was  heard  be 
yond  the  city,  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Ridge  and  at  other  near-by 
points.  With  the  issue  of  June  30,  1864,  the  regular  Atlanta 
issue  of  the  Appeal  is  closed. 

AWAY    FROM    ATLANTA. 

Its  stay  in  Atlanta  was  nearly  done.  Shortly  before  the  city 
was  entered  by  the  conquering  legions,  the  Appeal  retired  from 
that  same  Gen.  Sherman  who  a  year  before  had  chased  them 
out  of  Jackson.  The  Appeal,  press  and  type,  went  to  Montgom 
ery  after  June  30,  but  the  paper  continued  issuing  extra  slips 
from  a  proof  press  until  the  evacuation.  As  General  Somebody's 
corps  marched  into  Atlanta  on  one  side,  the  proof  press  and  a 
few  cases  of  type  retained  to  operate  it  went  out  on  a  dray  on 
the  other,  and  so  the  Appeal  and  Gen.  Sherman  parted  company 
for  good.  Sherman  went  off  down  into  Georgia  and  knocked 
many  a  printing  office  into  "pi"  there  and  over  in  South  Carolina. 
The  Appeal  forces  went  on  to  Montgomery,  where  the  paper 
was  regularly  issued  again,  beginning  the  2Oth  of  September, 
1864,  and  continued  to  entertain  and  instruct  the  denizens  of 
Dixie  until  about  the  2Oth  of  April,  1865. 

MONTGOMERY    EVACUATED. 

Then  another  fierce  military  gentleman  of  the  Federal  persua 
sion  took  it  into  his  head  to  ride  furiously  down  through  Ala 
bama — Major  General  Wilson,  with  nine  thousand  Spencer  rifles 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  25 

in  the  hands  of  picked  men,  who  knew  how  to  ride  and  how  to 
fight.  He  gobbled  up  Selma,  using  it  very  roughly,  burning  foun 
dries,  gun  factories  and  things  generally  of  the  "C.  S."  brand 
of  ownership.  When  it  was  definitely  ascertained  that  he  had 
fixed  his  eagle  eye  on  Montgomery — that  is  to  say,  about  the 
I2th  of  April,  1865,  the  Appeal  became  aware  of  the  sound 
policy  of  an  immediate  evacuation  of  the  "cradle  of  the  rebel 
lion,"  and  made  room  for  the  General.  The  press  took  to  itself 
wings  and  steam,  and  fled  east  of  the  Chattahoochee  to  Colum 
bus,  Ga.  Montgomery  was  occupied  without  resistance,  and 
Columbus  captured  after  a  stout  but  ineffectual  defense.  The 
press  and  the  material,  except  the  proof  press  and  a  few  cases  of 
type,  had  been  sent  to  Macon  in  anticipation  of  General  Wilson's 
probable  visit  to  Columbus,  and  were  there  deposited  in  a  place 
of  safety,  and  were  not  discovered  until  after  the  armistice  and 
the  promulgation  of  orders  from  General  Sherman  to  stop  the 
destruction  of  either  public  or  private  property.  The  proof 
press  and  a  few  cases  of  type  left  behind  in  Columbus  were  piled 
in  the  streets  and  destroyed  by  order  of  Major  General  Wilson, 
who  had  one  way  and  another  been  often  engaged  in  the  pur 
suit  of  the  migratory  journal  and  the  migratory  journalists. 
The  illness  of  Colonel  Dill's  wife  had  delayed  his  departure  too 
long,  and  after  some  little  search  he  was  found  by  Colonel  Minty 
and  conducted  to  General  Wilson's  headquarters  in  the  Perry 
House.  When  they  came  in  the  room,  General  Wilson  was  seated 
on  the  floor  with  his  engineer,  a  large  map  spread  out  under 
them.  Colonel  Minty  addressed  the  General  with  the  request: 
"Allow  me  to  introduce  to  you  for  a  moment,  sir,  Colonel  Dill,  of 
the  Memphis  Appeal."  "Jesus  Christ,"  exclaimed  General  Wilson, 
jumping  up  from  the  floor;  "have  we  caught  the  old  fox  at  last?" 
At  this  there  was  a  general  laugh  all  round,  followed  by  some  old 
Bourbon,  which  Colonel  Dill  declared  to  be  better  than  any  he  had 
tasted  for  two  years.  General  Wilson  gave  Dill  the  choice  of  giv 
ing  bond  not  to  publish  another  paper  during  the  continuance  of 
the  war  or  being  held  as  a  prisoner.  Dill  very  promptly  gave  the 
bond,  and  was  released. 


26  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

THE    RETURN    FROM    EXILE. 

But  the  war  was  now  about  ended,  and,  ironclad  with  am 
nesties  and  paroles,  the  Appeal  came  home  from  its  eventful  ex 
ile  of  three  years.  The  old  press  came  back,  too,  and  as  soon 
as  more  type  could  be  procured,  the  Appeal  again  began  its  pub 
lication  on  the  5th  of  November,  1865.  It  was  again,  in  truth, 
the  Memphis  Appeal 

When  the  war  broke  out  and  the  paper  went  into  voluntary  exile 
it  had  been  one  of  the  wealthiest  institutions  in  Memphis,  and  was 
published  by  McClanahan,  Trousdale  &  Dill.  McClanahan  and 
Dill  went  with  the  paper  when  it  started  on  its  three  years'  flight 
through  Dixie,  but  Col.  Leon  Trousdale  was  not  with  it  during 
its  career  "on  wheels."  He  had  previously  left  to  become  a 
staff  officer  with  some  general  of  the  Confederate  Army,  and 
afterwards  became  identified  with  the  Chattanooga  Rebel,  an 
other  migratory  journal  of  much  reputation  in  those  days,  though 
not  so  long-lived  as  the  Appeal.  Other  members  of  the  Rebel's 
staff  were  Albert  Roberts,  Henry  Watterson,  Franc  M.  Paul 
and  perhaps  others  of  less  note.  Both  McClanahan  and  Dill  came 
back  to  Memphis,  but  before  the  first  issue  of  the  paper  was 
printed  in  its  old  home,  McClanahan  was  no  more.  He  had 
been  identified  with  the  Appeal  since  1847,  was  with  it  in  all  its 
migratory  campaign  and  was  a  writer  of  eminent  ability.  He 
had  been  sick,  and  was  still  quite  feeble.  On  the  morning  of 
June  29,  1865,  he  had  opened  the  window  of  his  room  at  the 
Gayoso  Hotel  to  get  the  air,  when  he  lost  his  balance  and  fell, 
crushing  himself  so  cruelly  as  to  die  shortly  in  the  greatest  pain. 
From  the  Nashville  Press  is  taken  the  folowing  account  of  the 
tragedy,  which  will  prove  interesting  in  connection  with  this 
strange  and  eventful  newspaper  history. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  29th  ult,  Col.  John  R.  McClanahan 
was  found  in  the  alley  in  the  rear  of  the  Gayoso  House,  Mem 
phis.  He  had  sometime  during  the  night  fallen  from  the  win 
dow  of  his  room  in  the  third  story  of  the  hotel,  and  was  horribly 
mangled  by  the  fall.  Both  arms  and  both  legs  were  broken,  the 
latter  near  the  knees;  his  chin  crushed,  and  he  was  otherwise 
badly  bruised.  He  was  conscious  when  discovered,  and  in  the 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  27 

intensity  of  his  agony  begged  some  one  to  kill  him  and  put  an 
end  to  his  sufferings.  He  died  shortly  after. 

"Col.  McClanahan  was  for  many  years  editor  of  the  Memphis 
Appeal,  and,  in  1860,  a  warm  supporter  of  Mr.  Douglass  for 
the  Presidency.  He  subsequently  supported  the  rebellion,  and, 
on  the  approach  of  the  National  troops  to  Memphis,  removed 
with  his  office  to  Grenada,  Miss.  Both  he  and  the  Appeal  be 
came  rather  notorious  at  a  later  day  for  the  frequency  of  their 
change  of  base,  and,  lastly,  for  losing  even  their  base.  He  was 
a  kind,  warm-hearted  man,  a  fine  scholar  and  an  able  writer. 
Next  to  the  late  Elbridge  G.  Eastman,  he  was  the  most  sagacious 
and  reliable  editor  connected  with  the  Democratic  press  of  the 
State  of  Tennessee." 

Mr.  W.  F.  Dill,  the  other  proprietor,  did  not  long  survive 
him.  He  was  sick  at  the  Gayoso  Hotel  when  the  first  issue  was 
printed,  and  died  early  the  following  year.  When  the  first  num 
ber  was  being  printed,  Major  Will  O.  Woodson,  who  was  con 
nected  with  the  paper,  and  had  been  one  of  its  special  corre 
spondents  during  the  war,  seized  the  first  printed  sheet  as  it 
came  from  the  press  and  rushed  with  it  to  Dill's  sick  room. 
Mrs.  Dill  seized  the  paper  and  kissed  it  passionately,  as  though 
it  had  been  a  thing  of  flesh  and  blood,  and  then  spread  it  affec 
tionately  over  her  pale,  sick  husband.  To  her  this  was  an  em 
blem  of  all  the  hopes  and  struggles  and  failures  of  the  Con 
federacy.  The  Colonel  looked  at  it  more  practically.  He  picked 
it  up  and  began  counting  up  the  number  of  advertisements  and 
hunting  for  typographical  errors.  He  was  able  to  make  but  one 
visit  to  the  office  where  the  paper  was  printed,  and  died  a  few 
weeks  afterwards. 

But  though  neither  of  these  two  brave  workers  long  survived 
the  strange  episode  in  journalism  which  they  created,  they  had 
carried  out  their  ambition  to  have  their  paper  live  throughout 
the  war. 

Another  worker  on  the  Memphis  Appeal  of  the  war  times  is 
deserving  of  more  mention  than  can  be  given  him  here  for  want 
of  the  facts.  Things  went  by  rapidly  then,  and  men  stopped  not 
to  gather  the  threads  of  each  other's  lives.  Linebaugh,  a  fluent 
and  brilliant  writer,  joined  the  force  in  Atlanta.  He  was  an  ex- 


28  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  very  erratic  but  full  of  fine 
traits  of  character.  Loved  like  a  brother  by  the  exiles,  he  went 
with  the  Appeal  on  its  last  flight.  While  crossing  the  Alabama 
River  he  was  drowned,  and  was  thus  the  first  of  those  closely 
allied  with  the  Appeal  to  pass  away. 

POST    BELLUM    CONGRATULATIONS. 

The  Appeal's  war  history  was  a  subject  of  considerable  com 
ment  among  the  gentlemen  of  the  press  after  its  return,  and 
many  of  them  wrote  sketches  of  great  or  less  length  of  the 
Memphis-Grenada- Jackson- Atlanta-Montgomery  Appeal,  as  one 
of  them  termed  it.  Under  the  caption,  "A  Wanderer  Returned," 
the  Cincinnati  Commercial  said : 

"During  the  war  the  frequent  removals  of  the  Memphis  Ap 
peal  caused  a  good  deal  of  merriment,  and  journalists  especially 
kept  an  account  of  its  wanderings  and  amused  themselves  at  its 
expense.  The  paragraphs  on  the  subject  have  been  innumerable, 
and  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  proprietors  of  the  Appeal,  though 
they  were  not  unappreciative  of  a  good  thing,  were  always  able 
to  see  where  the  laugh  came  in.  We  received  many  copies  of 
the  Appeal  when  it  was  issued  at  Grenada,  Jackson  and  Atlanta, 
and  the  ample  extracts  from  its  columns  that  may  be  found  re 
produced  in  the  Commercial,  are  the  best  testimony  we  can  offer 
that  we  recognized  it  as  a  good  newspaper.  We  remember  well 
the  copy  of  the  Appeal  issued  at  Atlanta  on  the  morning  of  the 
battle  of  Peachtree  Creek.  It  was  full  of  fight,  and  we  should 
not  be  surprised  if  the  headlong  valor  of  Hood's  army  that  day 
was  due,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  fiery  appeals  addressed  to  the 
men  to  make  their  fight  then  and  there.  A  huge  ten-column  folio 
sheet  made  its  appearance  among  our  exchanges  yesterday,  and 
lo !  it  was  the  Memphis  Appeal  again,  and  it  was  dated  Memphis, 
Sunday,  November  5,  1865.  .  .  The  Appeal  proceeds  to  say 
'that  if  it  erred  in  obeying  the  impulse  which  throbbed  as  from 
one  impassioned  heart  throughout  the  South,  it  may  claim  to 
have  made  some  expiation  in  the  sacrifices  it  has  endured  during 
the  three  years  of  its  self-exile.'  It  has  'no  unmanly  excuses  to 
make/  nor  'stultifying  recantations  of  opinions  and  sentiments  once 
honestly  entertained ;'  but  admits  that  'the  stern  logic  of  events 
has  practically  compelled  their  renunciation.  We  frankly  and 
truly  accept  the  interpretation  which  has  been  stamped  with  the 
red  verdict  of  war  upon  the  Constitution,  of  the  indestructibility 
of  that  Union  of  States  and  people  which  makes  us,  for  all  time, 
a  mighty  and  indivisible  Republic ;  we  recognize  and  abide  by 


A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY.  29 

the  logical  sequence  of  the  late  unhappy  Civil  War,  in  the  de 
struction  now  and  forever,  of  the  institution  of  African  slavery. 
The  real  men  of  the  land,  the  true  fighting  soldiers  of  both  sec 
tions,  have  decreed  that  there  shall  be  a  real  peace  and  a  genuine 
union  in  the  great  American  family.  Between  the  veteran  Fed 
eral  soldier  and  the  unflinching  Confederate  soldier,  who  have 
so  often  met  each  other  in  the  raging  conflict  of  battle,  there  is 
a  feeling  of  respect  that  affords  the  sure  foundation  on  which 
the  restored  Union  will  rest.' ': 

So  much  for  the  other  side.  On  this  side  the  following  may 
be  given.  It  was  written  for  the  Nashville  Republican  Banner 
by  Albert  Roberts,  himself  a  "traveling  journalist"  in  those  days 
with  the  Chattanooga  Rebel,  and  afterwards  with  the  Atlanta 
Confederacy,  after  the  war  at  the  head  of  the  Republican  Ban 
ner,  and  at  the  head  of  the  American  in  Colonel  John  C.  Burch's 
time — the  peer  of  any  journalist  of  the  time : 

"Do  our  eyes  deceive  us?  No,  it  is  the  Memphis  Appeal 
which  stares  us  in  the  face !  The  same  old  letter — Roman  bold — 
at  the  head;  the  same  antique  decorations  and  plain  captions; 
the  very  ink,  and,  as  it  were,  the  very  paper.  We  stand,  so  to 
say,  in  our  old  shadow,  and  read  it  like  a  page  of  Waverly. 
Esto  perpetual  Here  is  the  portly  and  impressive  Dill,  like  a 
burgher  of  the  olden  time,  in  broad-brimmed  hat  and  silver- 
headed  cane,  just  as  he  used  to  pass  from  Whitehall  to  Peach- 
tree,  undismayed  by  the  shells,  unmoved  by  the  dreadful  stench 
of  saltpeter;  here,  hovering  in  the  air,  is  the  bleeding  form  of 
poor  McClanahan ;  and  here,  dripping  in  water  and  wrapped 
in  moss,  is  the  brilliant  and  ill-fated  Linebaugh !  The  history  of 
this  journal  will  be  read  a  hundred  years  hence  like  a  romance. 
It  has  had  more  adventures  than  a  Knight  of  Malta,  and  has 
come  out  of  the  smoke  and  din,  covered  over  with  scars,  but 
stronger  and  braver  for  the  conflict.  It  has  heard  lions  roar, 
and  seen  the  sea  puffed  up  with  winds ;  and  its  haps  and  chances 
by  flood  and  field  make  matter  for  a  ballad.  Nothing  in  news- 
paperography  can  compare  with  its  strange,  eventful  career. 

"Ah,  that  old  press !  How  well  we  remember  it !  Clickity- 
click!  Clickity-click !  Clickity-click !  Through  the  long  night  it 
rattled  away,  defiant  of  the  roar  and  storm  outside;  and  every 
morning  how  bright  and  fiery,  unfatigued  and  fresh  it  looked — 
like  a  war-horse  ready  for  another  charge.  They  carried  the 
works  of  Peachtree  street;  they  carried  the  works  below  Deca- 
tur;  they  carried  the  rifle  pits  which  ran  along  the  Macon  road. 
Clickity-click!  Clickity-click!  the  old  press  dashed  along,  heed 
less  of  danger,  a  living,  breathing,  cognizant  being,  cast  of  iron, 


30  A  REBEL  NEWSPAPER'S  WAR  STORY. 

steel  and  melt.  Dill  grew  serious,  Bumble's  face  extended  and 
Mack's  pen  wandered  vaguely  across  the  page.  Old  Joe  was 
down  the  country  and  Hood  was  playing  the  devil.  Then  Stone- 
man  was  gobbled.  Clickity-click !  rattled  the  old  press.  There 
was  a  pause — an  ominous  lull.  The  bloody  twenty-second  of 
July  was  passed,  the  bloody  twenty-eighth  was  lost,  and  Ben 
Hill  knew  no  more  about  Sherman  than  he  did  about  Paradise. 
Hood,  like  Dill,  was  serious,  and  the  boys  at  the  front  were  seri 
ous.  Hardee  was  off  at  Jonesboro.  Boom!  Boom!  How  the 
guns  thundered!  Crash!  Crash!  How  the  roofs,  walls  and 
church  spires  tumbled!  Whiz!  Whiz!  How  the  schrapnel  tore 
through  the  air !  Clickity-click !  Clickity-click ! 

"The  city  fell.  Out  we  went,  like  a  snuffed  candle,  and  dark 
ness  followed.  It  lasted  long,  unstudded  with  stars.  Linebaugh 
lies  at  the  bottom  of  the  Alabama;  McClanahan,  God  rest  him, 
sleeps  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi.  Day  begins  to  break. 
Clickity-click!  the  press  is  going  again  with  gallant  Dill  upon 
the  flat. 

"It  is  all  over  now.  It  seems  like  a  dream.  What  shadows 
we  pursue!  May  our  ancient  friend  never  be  shadowless,  but 
may  it  bear  the  sun  to  mark  its  shadow.  Here's  your  health,  O, 
Dill!  May  you  never  move  again,  O,  Appeal! — except  your 
readers." 


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